Oklahoma Can't Defend Utah's Balanced Attack

2005 NCAA TOURNAMENT

March 20, 2005|By Eric Stephens, Los Angeles Times

TUCSON -- In the 11 years that Kelvin Sampson has been coach, Oklahoma has built its identity on tough hard-nosed defense, and holding down Utah's 7-foot Andrew Bogut in Saturday's NCAA Tournament second-round game presented the ultimate challenge.

The Sooners were physical with Bogut and his teammates and, in a sense, they accomplished their mission in keeping the sophomore center to just 10 points. They didn't count on Marc Jackson banking in 3-point shots or Justin Hawkins and Bryant Markson soaring over them for slam dunks.

Utah showed its toughness and proved it isn't a one-man show as four players scored in double figures in a convincing 67-58 victory in an Austin Regional game at the McKale Center.

In advancing to Friday's regional semifinal against Kentucky OR Cincinnati, Utah (29-5) never trailed as Hawkins had 20 points and a career-high 14 rebounds, Jackson scored 17 points and Markson added 16.

"You can't really explain the feeling you have," said Jackson. "Sixteen teams left. It's just one of those opportunities that doesn't come by too often."

The smaller Utes also outrebounded third-seeded Oklahoma (25-8) by six despite the presence of 6-foot-9, 235-pound Taj Gray and 6-8, 259-pound Kevin Bookout inside. Gray led the Sooners with 19 points and 15 rebounds, but Bookout got into early foul trouble and had only four points in 19 minutes.

Much of that tough play on the boards was the result of Hawkins, an undersized 6-5 sophomore who either beat the Sooners big men to missed shots or simply snatched rebounds away from them.

Bogut, who often drew two defenders, was content to find either Hawkins or Markson cutting behind the aggressive Oklahoma defense for dunks as Utah shot 76.5 percent in the final 20 minutes